James J. Pearce

James J. Pearce, 85, of Big Lake in rural Noble County, Indiana, passed away at 9:53 p.m. Friday, April 5, 2019 at Parkview Regional Medical Center. Born November 13, 1933 in Oak Park, Illinois, he was the son of William J. Pearce and Helen (Jefferson) Munger.

Jim attended schools in Cook County, Illinois. He would move to Michigan where he worked for Essex Wire. He would relocate to Indiana in 1985 with Essex and resumed his fireman's career a few years later. He was with the Noble Township Fire Department and became a State Instructor with the fire department.

Jim enjoyed teasing around with people and had a good sense of humor. He enjoyed roller skating with his wife Patricia and together they skated with the Noble County Skating Buddies. He also enjoyed fishing and loved watching his great-grandchildren ride around the on his golf cart at the lake.

He is survived by his daughters, Helen (Jeff) Braden, Carol Recher, Dawn Braden, Fern (James West) Keenan and Dian Vox; fiancée, Helen Peterson; brothers, William (Sharon) Pearce, Frank Pearce, John (Carol) Nemeti; former wife, Nanci Behrendt; and numerous grandchildren and great- grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and wife Patricia (Wheeler) Pearce on September 11, 2000.

A memorial service will be 2 p.m. Friday, April 12, 2019 at the Noble Township Fire Department, 3199 IN-109, Albion with a gathering to follow. He will be laid to rest next to his wife at Wolf Lake Cemetery on Friday May 31, 2019 at noon. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in his memory toward his final expenses, I.C.O. DeMoney-Grimes, a Life Story Funeral Home, 600 Countryside Dr., Columbia City, IN 46725, (260) 244-5122. To send his family condolences online, visit www.DeMoneyGrimes.com .